ITOCHU PROMINENT & PERRY ELLIS INT’L INK LICENSING DEAL FOR DRESS SHIRTS

by Christopher Blomquist
Perry Ellis spring 2016 runway look
Perry Ellis spring 2016 runway look

Perry Ellis International has expanded its licensing agreement with Itochu Prominent USA, LLC.
The latter, the North American flagship subsidiary of Tokyo-based investment and trading company Itochu Corporation, will produce men’s dress shirts under the Perry Ellis trademark and men’s dress shirts and tailored clothing under the Original Penguin trademark in the U.S. and Canada.
Itochu will launch the collections for spring 2016. The Perry Ellis shirts will build on the brand’s current dress shirt and tailored clothing business while the Original Penguin collections will be sold by such well known retailers as Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor and The Bay. They will also be sold at independent men’s specialty stores.
“Our relationship with the Perry Ellis brand in the tailored clothing area has been a very successful and we are delighted to now also work with Perry Ellis International on other businesses including Perry Ellis dress shirts, Original Penguin dress shirts and tailored clothing,” said Dan Orwig, president of Itochu Prominent’s men’s division, in a statement. “This move is an exciting complement to our existing men’s business, and we are particularly pleased to significantly deepen what has been a very rewarding association with Perry Ellis International.”
“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Itochu Prominent, one of the largest world companies, which will allow us to extend the reach of our global portfolio of lifestyle brands,” added George Feldenkreis, chairman and CEO of Perry Ellis International.